火箭想起了他们在窃贼市场上看到的那丑陋的一幕。“哦，是的！没错。我们确实还有一些事要做。去扎尔
德拉克斯！”
“呼叫惊奇队长。”卡魔拉提议，“我们需要所有我们能得到的帮助。”
卡魔拉独自一人走到飞船的尾部。能够再次回到队友身边，让她感觉很开心，但她想要单独待一会儿。她
小心翼翼地研究着那个给了她这么多希望和心痛的盒子。这个盒子感觉比她印象中的要轻。这是暴君的小
玩意儿，还是别的什么东西呢？这个问题已经不再重要了。卡魔拉从口袋里掏出一个小小的爆炸装置，把
它粘在盒子上，放进气闸里，然后紧紧地关上了穿梭门。她深吸一口气，打开了气闸，盒子立即被吸进了
宇宙空间中。刹那间，卡魔拉眼前闪现出一道耀眼的光。盒子被毁坏了，她所追求的一切终于结束了。她
感觉到肩上一下子轻松了。她意识到一旦拿回了盒子，它里面是什么就不重要了。她曾经懵懵懂懂地活了
这么久，而现在，她已经不想知道盒子里面是什么了。盒子代表的是她过去的包袱。现在，她终于自由
了。是时候向前迈进了。当飞船在宇宙中穿梭的时候，阳光透过窗户照进来，温暖了卡魔拉的脸。新的一
天开始了，她会和家人一起度过。
Doctor Strange 奇异博士.黑魔法之谜
著 者 / 美国漫威公司
责任编辑 / 黄 娜 侯湉丽
制作发行 / 华东理工大学出版社有限公司
书 号 / ISBN 978-7-5628-5601-6
联系我们 / 电子邮箱 [email protected]
官方微博 e.weibo.com/ecustpress
天猫旗舰店 http://hdlgdxcbs.tmall.com
版权所有 侵权必究
Copyright © 2018 MARVEL. All rights reserved.
本书赠送音频，图书上每个章节处有二维码的，直接就可以扫听。
此书赠送单词随身查APP,具体方法是：关注“华东理工大学出版社”公众号，搜索关键词5601，即可获取
相应的赠送单词。
目录
The Story Of Doctor Strange
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
奇异博士的故事
第一章
第二章
第三章
第四章
第五章
第六章
第七章
第八章
第九章
第十章
返回总目录
扫一扫，收听本节英语音频
The Story Of Doctor Strange
As a young man, Stephen Strange always believed in himself first and foremost. After graduating medical school
with honors, Strange became one of the most gifted surgeons in the world. His practice thrived, garnering him
wealth and attention. It also brought out his selfishness and arrogance.
As a doctor, Strange was known for his skill and precision, but in his personal life, he was reckless and
irresponsible. One evening he took his favorite car out for a spin, only to lose control and crash it into a tree. His
colleagues saved his life, but Strange's hands were damaged beyond repair. His amazing gifts were lost, and he
would never be able to perform surgery again.
Instead of allowing anger and frustration to consume him, Strange went on a spiritual journey to the mountains of
Tibet, where he encountered the Ancient One, a being with vast magical powers. The Ancient One taught Strange
humility and caution, training him in a new discipline—the mystic arts.
When the time came, the Ancient One passed on to a new plane of existence and bestowed on Stephen Strange the
mantle of Sorcerer Supreme. Though his life didn't turn out exactly how he expected, he found fulfillment in his
work as Doctor Stranger.
扫一扫，收听本节英语音频
CHAPTER 1
“Coming through!” shouted Falcon as he zoomed through the Long Island Mall. During his adventures as Falcon,
Sam Wilson had seen some pretty crazy things. He had fought Super-Androids, alien armies, and even rock trolls.
Now a group of werewolf-lizard creatures was invading, and he couldn't believe his weird luck. Falcon landed safely
in the middle of the mall, where he met Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Thor, and Scarlet Witch. “Everyone has been
safely evacuated. The coast is clear,” he said. “Let's go kick some werelizard butt. Avengers, assemble!”
“Not so fast, Sam,” said Iron Man. “We've got to figure out what these things are first. That way we know exactly
what we're dealing with.”
“They're big, ugly, and they stink,” Sam said. “What more do we need to know?”
A group of crazed werelizards emerged from the food court, where they'd been snacking on tacos. The glint in their
eyes said they were still hungry, and the Avengers looked like they could be the creatures' next meal.
“Back, monsters!” hollered Thor. He swung his mighty hammer, Mjolnir, and launched it directly at the werelizards,
knocking down a row of them with a single blow.
“Help!” someone cried from nearby.
“It sounds like we missed someone during the evacuation,” said Carol Danvers, known to her teammates as Captain
Marvel. “I'll handle this one.”
She followed the voice to Poloski's Department Store, where a little girl was hiding behind a rack of clothing. “Don't
worry, sweetheart, you're safe now,” Captain Marvel assured her.
“Look out!” the little girl said, pointing at an approaching werelizard.
Captain Marvel kicked the werelizard, causing it to stumble backward and get disoriented. “And now for the big
finish,” she said, grabbing the beast by its scruff and tossing it into the air. “Gotcha!” said Falcon, catching the
werelizard and flying away with it. “Let's find a good place for you to take a bath.” He dropped the creature in the
mall fountain, and returned to his friends.
“Thanks for the assist, Sam,” said Captain Marvel.
“That's what teamwork is all about,” Falcon said. Sam was so preoccupied that he didn't notice two hungry
werelizards sneaking up behind him.
“I guess it's up to the handsome, super-intelligent Tony Stark to save the day, as usual,” Iron Man said, using his
repulsor rays to blast away the sneaky werelizards and save Falcon. “At least I'm good at it. Hey, Wanda, what do
you make of these things?”
“These beasts are unnatural,” said Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch. She tried using her chaos magic to decipher
the origin of the werelizards, but came up empty. “They've been enchanted with a strange magic even my power
can't seem to figure out,” she confessed.
“Magic. My favorite,” Iron Man said, rolling his eyes. It was widely known that technology lover Iron Man despised
magic.
But there was one person who would know exactly where the werelizards came from. The only problem was that he
didn't always see eye to eye with the Avengers—or any other heroes, for that matter—since they called him only
when they needed something. He had a reputation for being aloof and difficult, though his power was undeniable.
He was Doctor Strange, a master of the mystic arts. And it was only a matter of time before he showed up.
As the Avengers continued to fight the werelizards, a familiar voice echoed through the mall: “These are curious
little monsters. I wonder who made them.”
“Show yourself, Loki,” snarled Thor. “We haven't time for your games!”
In a puff of mist, Loki, Asgardian god of mischief, appeared. He hovered above the heroes, watching them battle
and smirking.
“These disgusting creatures are your doing, aren't they, Brother?” said Thor.
“I would never create beasts this primitive. I simply came here to watch.” Loki cackled.
Thor charged at his brother. He wasn't in the mood for this. “Defend yourself!” he shouted.
“Perhaps I'll visit again when you're less busy,” said Loki, before disappearing in a burst of thin smoke.
Suddenly, the mall fell completely dark and a rumbling shook the structure to its foundation.
In a flash of lightning, each one disappeared right before their eyes, leaving behind only a wisp of vapor. The
werelizards were gone at last, and things could return to normal. The Avengers stood amazed. Doctor Strange was
quite impressive.
“It took you long enough,” said Iron Man. “But thanks for the wacky magic mumbo jumbo. That was a close one.”
“Believe it or not, Mr. Stark, I have matters of my own to attend to,” said Doctor Strange. “You should know that
magic is nothing to be trifled with.”
“What were those things?” asked Captain Marvel.
“They were innocent animals who had been fused together,” Strange explained. “I used a spell to transport them to
another dimension, where they'll do no harm. When the spell wears off, they will return to their true forms and rejoin
our world.”
“It was Loki!” declared Thor.
Doctor Strange closed his eyes. He used his power as Sorcerer Supreme to reach out across the enchanted realms
and find information on the werelizards. Strange opened his eyes and they glowed bright yellow.
“This wasn't Loki's doing,” he said. “It's a dark magic I cannot identify.” Strange was very knowledgeable about
magic in all its forms. If he couldn't identify the source of the disturbance, it did not bode well.
“Join the Avengers and we shall find this evil sorcery together,” said Thor.
Strange brushed aside the offer. “No, thank you. You do not know the mystic arts like I do. The world of magic can
be very dangerous, as you have seen today. If we were to work together, you'd just be in the way,” he said, using his
Cloak of Levitation to rise into the air.
“But we're so fun to hang out with!” joked Iron Man. “I'll even let you teach me a card trick or two.”
“Mr. Stark, I prefer to handle magical affairs on my own. Farewell, Avengers,” Doctor Strange declared, then
disappeared into thin air.
Iron Man shook his head in disbelief. “Who turns down help from the Avengers?” he asked. “Oh well. Good luck,
Doc. If something bad really is happening in the world of magic, you're going to need it.”
扫一扫，收听本节英语音频
CHAPTER 2
“I'm covered in the foul stench of dark magic!” shouted Doctor Strange, brushing himself off. He'd returned home
with many questions. Someone was using magic for evil purposes, and he intended to find out who.
Doctor Strange's home, the Sanctum Sanctorum, was an enchanted mansion on a quiet street in Manhattan's
Greenwich Village. No one would ever suspect it was filled with mysteries. Doctor Strange felt quite at home
among its many magical curiosities.
As he made his way down a long hallway toward the library, he passed numerous mystical wonders. Each door in
the Sanctum led to a different realm—some of them peaceful, some of them dangerous. Opening the wrong one
could unleash a fleet of tentacled demons or the restless spirits of the undead.
“By the Vishanti!” exclaimed Doctor Strange as a small beastie scurried across his feet. The Sanctum also played
host to bizarre creatures from time to time. At last Strange arrived at the library and was greeted by his comrade and
faithful assistant, Wong.
“Wong, one of the naked soul rats has gotten loose,” said Doctor Strange. “I thought we'd gotten them all since their
invasion. See that it's found and disposed of properly. It's very dangerous to have such a creature running around.”
“I'll put on my haunted gloves and look for it after lunch,” said Wong, sighing. “Welcome home, Stephen. How was
the mall?”
Wong knew Doctor Strange better than anyone. They'd been confidants for many years, and Wong was always there
to listen or offer advice when the world of magic was too much for Doctor Strange to handle. Wong was also an
expert martial artist and master of all trades who cataloged Doctor Strange's many magical artifacts from across the
multiverse.
“Something bad is happening, Wong. The world of magic is in danger. Dark forces are at work, and I must find the
source before it's too late!” declared a frustrated Doctor Strange.
“I hope you didn't track ectoplasm across the floor when you arrived,” said Wong. “I just cleaned all the rugs by
hand.” Wong was also the Sanctum's housekeeper.
“No, no, no,” muttered Doctor Strange under his breath. It had been a long day, and he was getting extremely
cranky. Strange's Cloak of Levitation whipped off of his body and hung itself neatly on a coat-rack nearby as he
began searching the bookshelves for information that could help.
“Relax. Take a hot bath. Are you hungry?” asked Wong. “I made some soup.” Wong made a very tasty chicken
noodle soup.
Strange wasn't having any of it. “I don't have time for baths and soup!” he exclaimed, furiously scanning his library.
With so much information at his disposal, surely he'd be able to find the answers to his questions.
An idea occurred to him. “I must travel to the Astral Plane and speak with my mentor, the Ancient One. He'll be able
to tell me about these dimensional fluctuations.”
The Astral Plane was an alternate dimension beyond the earth, filled with magical energies both light and dark. To
reach the Astral Plane, a magician must separate mind from body through a process called astral projection. It
required focus and concentration.
Doctor Strange sat, legs crossed, in the middle of the room. He closed his eyes tightly, took two deep breaths, and
cleared his mind. His journey to the spirit world had begun.
“Be careful,” warned Wong.
“I'm always careful,” Doctor Strange assured him as his glowing blue spirit left his physical body and rose into the
air.
Wong left Strange to his business. “I'll go see if I can find that soul rat,” he said, leaving the room and closing the
door behind him.
“Welcome, Stephen. It's been a long time. You're looking agitated,” said the Ancient One, joining Doctor Strange on
the Astral Plane. The Ancient One was a powerful magician of the highest order. He had been the Sorcerer Supreme
before Doctor Strange inherited the title. When the Ancient One's mortal body passed on, his spirit moved to the
Astral Plane for all eternity. Now whenever Doctor Strange needed advice, he visited his former instructor. They had
an amiable but complicated relationship.
“I have no time for small talk. I need your guidance, Ancient One. Magic is being used unnaturally. Evil forces are
at work,” explained Doctor Strange. “What do you know of it?”
“Hmmm. You have many tools at your disposal. Look at all these spell books and enchanted weapons,” the Ancient
One said. “Why not use them?”
“I will,” answered Strange. “But first I need help in finding the source of these troubles. I can sense danger, but I
don't know where it's coming from.”
“You have many enemies,” offered the Ancient One.
“This is true. Loki could be a suspect, though the creatures I fought today aren't his style,” said Strange. “I need
more information.”
“Have you tried asking your friends for assistance?” inquired the Ancient One. Doctor Strange bristled at the
question.
“The Avengers are brightly colored Super Heroes whom I greatly respect,” Strange explained, “but they don't
understand the world of magic as I do. And I prefer to work alone.”
The Ancient One eyed Strange's brightly colored Cloak of Levitation and let out a hearty chuckle. “Ha-ha! Says the
man with the dramatic living cape.” He smirked. “I wasn't referring to the Avengers. Friends come in many shapes
and sizes. You may need some in the near future.”
Doctor Strange disagreed. “I prefer to handle issues of magic by myself!” he demanded. “I come to you with
important questions, and you answer me in riddles!”
“Calm yourself, master of the mystic arts. The Astral Plane is crawling with spirits who would take advantage of
your emotion,” warned the Ancient One. “You face many enemies, Stephen. Look around you and remain guarded.
Life is a journey. Be patient and careful.”
The Ancient One's spirit disappeared, and Doctor Strange was left alone on the Astral Plane. He thought his wise
mentor would give him answers, but Strange was just left with more questions. As he prepared to return to the
Earthly Plane, he sensed something was wrong. The Astral Plane grew cold, and a shiver shot up his spine. He was
not alone.
扫一扫，收听本节英语音频
CHAPTER 3
“How many lives have you saved, Stephen?” a soft voice whispered into Doctor Strange's ear, startling him. He
turned to see who it could be, but no one was there. Someone new was with him on the Astral Plane. The voice grew
angry. “Master of the mystic arts? Ha! You are not worthy of the power you wield!”
Doctor Strange felt uneasy. The voice sounded familiar but he couldn't quite place it. Even in his astral form,
Strange could feel the room getting colder. Dark shadows danced across the walls in front of him. “Show yourself,
whoever you are!” he shouted. Soon the shadows began peeling away to become slithering snakelike creatures. “By
the Vishanti,” he muttered under his breath.
“The Vishanti can't help you now,” the mysterious voice replied.
The shadow creatures taunted Strange as their hissing grew louder and louder. Sensing danger, the Cloak of
Levitation quickly surrounded Doctor Strange's physical body, shielding it from danger. “Let the light of the all-
seeing Eye of Agamotto blind you, creatures of the dark!” Strange ordered sternly. The cloak's amulet released a
flash of blinding white light, burning the shadow creatures and causing them to sizzle. They scattered back into the
walls, but the whispers continued.
“You doubt yourself, Strange. I see magic is taking its toll on you,” the voice said. “Why not relax and take the
vacation of your dreams?”
At last! Doctor Strange knew exactly who he was dealing with: Nightmare, ruler of the Dream Dimension.
Nightmare was a ghoulish villain who delighted in tormenting his enemies with their deepest and darkest fears. He
wished to feed on those fears and use them to increase his power. He often hid on the Astral Plane, lying in wait to
strike Strange at his weakest moment. He was close to getting his wish.
“Do not mock me, Nightmare!” commanded Doctor Strange. The shadow creatures appeared again, swarming
Strange's astral form from behind and grabbing him tightly. He struggled to break free, but their grip tightened.
At last, Nightmare showed himself. He stared at Doctor Strange, tilting his head ever so slightly. He was looking for
fear. Nightmare snapped his fingers and a vision of the past appeared in front of Doctor Strange. It was an image of
his early days as a young doctor. It had brought him great joy to save lives using the skills he learned in medical
school, but a terrible accident had changed all that. He lost the use of his hands and was no longer able to perform
surgery. It hurt Strange to be reminded of his past in such a way.
“My powers have grown since last we tangled,” Nightmare sneered. “Look at your past, Stephen. See your fear. See
your pain!” The happy visions swiftly became darker. Doctor Strange watched his younger self grow frustrated,
struggling to hold a scalpel. It made him angry.
“You won't scare me, Nightmare. I fought through my pain. It made me stronger,” Strange growled. “And when I
break free, I'll show you just how strong I've become.”
Nightmare let out a loud belly laugh, savoring the moment. Strange, however, saw an opportunity. He looked around
the room, scanning it for items he could use to escape. Aha! The Sword of Ultimate Shadow would do the trick. It
was housed in a glass case nearby. Strange focused his mental energies and commanded the sword to leap from the
case and cut him out of the shadow creatures' grip. The sword did just that, and soon Doctor Strange's astral form
was free at last. He grabbed the weapon and gripped it tightly, preparing for battle.
“Clever, clever,” said Nightmare. “Your magical items come in quite handy. I hope no one ever steals them. Then
you'd be in real trouble.”
Could Nightmare be behind the dark magic Doctor Strange had sensed? He was certainly powerful enough; that
much was obvious. “The world of magic is unbalanced. What do you know of it?” demanded Strange.
Nightmare cackled heartily once again. “Ha-ha-ha! Magic is always unbalanced! Magic is always uncertain! That is
its nature, fool!”
Doctor Strange became impatient. “Why are you here, Nightmare? Reveal your true intentions or leave the Astral
Plane at once!”
“My intentions were simply to test your mettle,” said Nightmare. “You'll soon face a much bigger challenge than I
present. The question remains: Will you rise to the occasion?”
Nightmare slithered his thin frame through the air toward Doctor Strange. “Your fears were delicious. I look forward
to dining on them again soon,” he said before evaporating.
Doctor Strange's astral form soon rejoined his physical body as he returned to the Earthly Plane. He was exhausted
by Nightmare's taunting. In fact, it had made him quite hungry.
Wong sensed his friend was in need and rushed into the room to check on him. “Are you all right?” he asked. “I
heard some commotion.”
“I'm fine,” replied Strange, out of breath. “I think I'll have some of that soup now.”
扫一扫，收听本节英语音频
CHAPTER 4
“You have visitors!” yelled Wong.
Doctor Strange had been reading the Book of the Vishanti for days. It contained powerful spells that Strange could
use to defend himself against a variety of attacks, but would it be enough? The same question had been bothering
him since the incident with the werelizards: What is happening to magic? For the moment, it would remain
unanswered as he attended to some unexpected guests.
“May I present the Scarlet Witch and Iron Fist,” announced Wong, taking an extravagant bow. “Welcome to the
Sanctum Sanctorum.”
“I guess we're pretty important, huh?” said Iron Fist.
“Wong is putting on a show for you,” said Strange. Wong had quite a sense of humor. “Daniel Rand, otherwise
known as Iron Fist, Zen student of the K'un Lun. It's a pleasure to meet you. Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch,
good to see you again. What brings you by? I'm very busy.”
“We were just in the neighborhood and wanted to hang out. Let's order pizza!” said Iron Fist, plopping down in a
chair and putting up his feet.
The Scarlet Witch smiled. “Your home is truly amazing, Stephen. My powers aren't nearly as developed as yours,
but I'd love to spend some time in your library,” she said, gazing at the many marvels that surrounded her. “I envy
your commitment.”
“You are an incredible illusionist, Wanda,” complimented Strange. “Focus on your strengths and not your
weaknesses. Only then can you grow.”
The arms of Iron Fist's chair reared up and grabbed him by the wrists, causing him to jump. “Whoa!” he exclaimed.
“That chair is alive!”
“Indeed it is,” said Doctor Strange. “The Sanctum is filled with many enchanted relics from my adventures across
the dimensional planes. And yet even with all of these items, I can't find the answers I currently need.”
Iron Fist picked up a bizarre-looking cylinder and began to play with it as if he were a pirate with a sword.
“What's this do?” he asked. “I bet it's a magic toilet plunger!”
“Put that down. That is the Wand of Watoomb, and it is not a toy,” warned Doctor Strange. “What is the purpose of
the visit, Scarlet Witch? I needn't be a magician to sense that you're not here to merely hang out.”
Scarlet Witch was a little embarrassed. She couldn't fool Doctor Strange. “Someone is manipulating mystic forces
beyond our control,” she said. “You and I have both sensed it, as has Iron Fist. I know you don't like working with
others, but we want to help.”
“I am the Sorcerer Supreme and a master of the mystic arts,” replied Strange. “I don't need help, thank you.”
“That doesn't protect you from everything,” said Iron Fist. “What do you do when a bad guy tries to give you a good
old-fashioned punch to the face?”
“Why don't we spar a bit, and I can show you?” Strange offered.
“No way. You'd probably use some magic on me when I wasn't looking,” said Iron Fist.
Doctor Strange's Cloak of Levitation—with its amulet, the Eye of Agamotto—gently removed itself from his body
and floated over to the corner, where it hovered patiently. “Now I'm without my magic vestments. Does this put
your mind at ease?” he asked.
“That sounds like a challenge to me,” said Scarlet Witch.
Iron Fist looked Doctor Strange square in the eye. They both nodded and the match began. The heroes circled each
other patiently, considering exactly how to strike. It had been a while since Strange had sparred with someone other
than Wong. It gave him quite a thrill.
“I like the gray streaks in your hair, Steve,” said Iron Fist, smiling. “How old are you again?”
“I'm old enough to know what trash talking sounds like,” Strange countered. “And don't call me Steve.”
The two heroes sparred for quite a while, jabbing, hooking, and avoiding each other with relative ease.
Strange swept the leg of Iron Fist and forced him to the ground.
“Uncle?” asked Strange.
“Uncle!” replied Iron Fist. Strange released him, and Iron Fist rose to his feet. “You're good, Doc. I didn't see that
one coming.”
“And I didn't even have to use the Bolts of Balthakk to subdue you,” said Strange with a smile. “Words of advice—
both magic and fighting are about misdirection.”
“Pretty wise stuff. Where'd you learn those moves, anyway?” asked Iron Fist.
“Wong isn't just a good cook; he's also a superb hand-to-hand combatant,” offered Strange.
“Ah, so there's a right way and a Wong way?” joked Iron Fist.
Scarlet Witch had a curious look on her face as she glanced around the room at Doctor Strange's enchanted
weaponry. “With so many powerful items in one place, how do you keep the Sanctum safe from outside forces?” she
asked.
“I've installed numerous magical protections in order to safeguard the Sanctum from extradimensional danger. No
one can enter the Sanctum unless given permission by myself or Wong,” said Doctor Strange. “One should be
prepared for the unexpected.”
Wong rushed into the room with news. “I hate to interrupt, but vampires are attacking Grand Central Station. I
thought you might want to do something about it,” he said. “I also made some tea if anyone is thirsty.”
“Another disturbance I couldn't foresee!” exclaimed Doctor Strange. “I've got to get to Grand Central at once.”
“We'll join you,” offered Scarlet Witch.
“No,” countered Doctor Strange. “That won't be necessary. Stay here. Have a cup of Wong's tea.” Doctor Strange
held out his arms, welcoming the Cloak of Levitation and Eye of Agamotto back onto his body. “It's time for me to
get to work.”
扫一扫，收听本节英语音频
CHAPTER 5
“By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth!” exclaimed Doctor Strange. He had arrived at Grand Central Station to find
vampires frightening travelers and wreaking havoc. Strange despised vampires and considered them nasty, ruthless
bloodsuckers.
He scanned the area with his mystic power and noticed something peculiar. These vampires weren't looking for
blood at all. They were focused only on scaring people. This is bizarre, he thought.
Doctor Strange created a protective barrier, shielding the frightened passengers. The vampires struck the shield and,
realizing it was impossible to break through, ran away in defeat.
“Thank you, Mister Magic,” a boy said.
“You're welcome. Now be a hero and help your grandmother, young man,” said Strange. “You'll be safe outside.”
The young boy took off as Strange heard the sound of battle nearby. Someone was fighting vampires alone.
As he moved to get a closer look, Strange discovered it was the hero known as White Tiger. She'd been taking down
vampires for a while and was losing steam quickly.
“How about a hand over here?” White Tiger asked, punching a vampire right in the face.
“The mystical tiger amulet, is it yours?” asked Strange.
“It sure is,” said White Tiger. “How about some magic, if you don't mind?”
Doctor Strange raised his hands high in the air as his eyes glowed a bright yellow.
Crystals of Cyndriarr! he bellowed, and hundreds of dagger-like crystals rained down on the attacking vampires,
causing them to flee.
“Thanks,” said White Tiger, brushing herself off and taking a moment to catch her breath. “These things just
appeared out of nowhere and started causing trouble. They're not biting anyone on the neck, so that's good. I think
someone is just trying to wear us out.”
Doctor Strange was impressed. “That's a keen observation,” he said. “There is disorder in the world of magic.
Someone or something is meddling in forces beyond their control.” White Tiger's amulet began to glow. “The
talisman that you wear. It's very curious and powerful.”
“It's how I get my powers,” explained White Tiger. “You can take a look at it sometime, but only if you promise to
give me some magical training.”
The idea excited Doctor Strange. “Attune yourself to the amulet's power. Use it to clear your mind and focus your
abilities. Then you'll be able to—” He hesitated, sensing trouble nearby.
“Ahhh!” A cry rang out. Vampires were closing in again, and someone needed help.
White Tiger scanned the area. Her enhanced senses came in handy during situations like this. “I'd love to stay and
chat, but I've got work to do,” she said, before diving into a sea of angry vampires.
Strange studied White Tiger as she fought. Her amulet not only gave her strength and agility, but it allowed her to
focus on tasks without distraction. That's a valuable asset, especially for someone as young as she, he thought.
The vampires were dwindling in number, but it was time for the big finish. Doctor Strange wondered how he could
take them all out at once. He used his mystic power to scan them again. This time something astonishing was
revealed. The vampires were actually hollow shells made entirely of magic. Since they weren't living creatures,
Strange could do anything he wanted to destroy them.
Seven Suns of Cinnibus! he shouted, calling forth a rain of heat and light. It zapped all the vampires with sharp bolts
of lightning, causing them to crumble into ash. Grand Central Station was at last vampire-free.
White Tiger was impressed. “That was awesome!” she said. “I hope I never have to fight a bunch of gross vampires
again. Thanks for the help.”
“Be glad they weren't Mind Maggots,” Strange said. “And you're welcome.”
“I'm not used to working with other Super Heroes,” White Tiger explained. “Well, except Spider-Man. And Nova.
Oh, and Iron Fist. I guess what I mean to say is, thanks. I couldn't have done this without your help. We should do it
again sometime.”
“Perhaps we should. Anyone who can stand the company of Iron Fist deserves my respect and admiration,” Strange
joked. As he left White Tiger and headed back to the Sanctum, Strange wondered if maybe he'd been wrong about
working with other heroes.
Was it time for a change?
扫一扫，收听本节英语音频
CHAPTER 6
Doctor Strange was exhausted. He calmly soared through the clouds above New York City, but his mind was racing.
He was puzzled by the sudden and bizarre assaults that had been happening in and around the city. Strange's magical
senses were thrown off, and he couldn't make sense of things. Every time he thought he had the answer, a new
question arose.
It was time once again for him to visit the Astral Plane and seek the counsel of the Ancient One. Strange found a
nice quiet place behind a cloud where no one would bother him. Clearing his mind as best he could, his spirit form
awoke and joined the Astral Plane. The Ancient One was waiting for him.
“It's good to see you again, Stephen,” he said. “I imagine you have more questions for me that I cannot possibly
answer.”
“I demand answers!” commanded Strange.
“Do not make demands of me, Sorcerer Supreme!” boomed the Ancient One. The loud outburst shook even the
peaceful clouds. The Ancient One was a benevolent being, but he also had a temper, especially when his authority
was questioned.
Doctor Strange sighed. He hadn't meant to snap at his trusted mentor, but he was simply at his wits' end. “The bridge
between the natural world and the world of magic is breaking down,” he said. “I've fought animals that were crudely
fused together and hollow vampires who attacked without purpose. Nightmare showed me my greatest fears, and
Loki may be involved. What does it all mean? Is this a test, Ancient One? Are these incidents connected? Nothing
makes sense.” Strange was deeply frustrated, and it showed.
“Such dramatic talk for a doctor,” said the Ancient One. “Everything is a test, Stephen. Calm yourself. Clear your
mind. You're looking for obvious answers where none may be found.”
“More riddles,” grumbled Strange. “I should have expected more riddles. You're one of the most powerful
magicians I have ever known. You are wise beyond recollection, and yet you have no answers!”
“You are correct!” agreed the Ancient One. “It's up to you to take a hard look at the patterns and figure out how the
pieces fit together. Only you can provide the answers. You are surrounded by allies and yet you resist their
assistance. Why?”
Doctor Strange was getting frustrated again. “I don't need their assistance! I don't need anyone's assistance. I am the
Sorcerer Supreme and a master of the mystic arts. I should be able to handle anything and everything that concerns
the world of magic on my own.”
“And yet, here you are,” the Ancient One stated firmly.
He has a point, thought Strange. If I were really so powerful, I would have been able to find a way to solve this
problem already.
“Do not resist the counsel of your colleagues and friends. Their advice is valuable,” said the Ancient One. “New
perspectives must always be welcomed. You may find them in the least likely of places.”
Strange considered the Ancient One's words as an astral earthquake shook them both. Strange focused on locating
the source of the trouble. “The Museum of Natural History!” he exclaimed. It was time to take care of business.
“Thank you, Ancient One. I believe the path is becoming clearer to me.”
“A wise man knows there's always something new to learn.” And with that, the Ancient One's spirit form
evaporated.
Doctor Strange thought deeply about what the Ancient One had said. A new perspective was just what he needed.
Strange used his consciousness to search the Astral Plane for someone who could help. Finally, he found the person
he was looking for: Jericho Drumm, otherwise known as Brother Voodoo.
Strange had met Brother Voodoo many years before, when they were young magicians. Much had changed in their
lives since then.
“Pardon me, Jericho,” Strange interrupted. “It's been a long time.”
“It has indeed. Hello, Doctor Strange,” said Brother Voodoo. “If the Sorcerer Supreme is reaching out to me,
something big must be happening. What can I do for you?”
“Meet me at the Museum of Natural History,” answered Strange. “You and I are going demon hunting.”
扫一扫，收听本节英语音频
CHAPTER 7
Doctor Strange was standing in the middle of the Museum, feeling out of place. He'd been waiting for Brother
Voodoo for over ten minutes and was beginning to get annoyed.
“Excuse me, but do you work here?” a tourist woman asked him. Her little boy looked him up and down, admiring
the Cloak of Levitation.
“No, madam, I do not work here. I am a doctor,” said Strange, forcing a smile. I should have made myself invisible,
he thought. “If you'll excuse me, I must attend to some business.”
Doctor Strange grew nervous as the woman reached into her purse. With so many unexpected occurrences lately,
she could've very well been an evil sorceress in disguise. He braced himself for whatever was coming next.
“Would you mind taking a photo of me and my son?” the woman asked sheepishly. “Mom, can the doctor be in the
photo, too?” the boy asked. “I like his cape!”
Doctor Strange awkwardly posed with the woman and her son. They thanked him and went on their merry way. That
wasn't so bad, Strange thought. He received a few lingering stares, but was otherwise ignored by the museum-goers.
In New York City, a man wearing a flowing red cloak wasn't as weird as people might've thought.
“Taking photographs with fans?” said Brother Voodoo, appearing out of thin air. “I had no idea that a master of the
mystic arts did such things.”
Brother Voodoo had known Doctor Strange for many years. Their paths, though often very different, had crossed
numerous times. Jericho Drumm gained his powers by joining himself to the spirit of his dying brother and studying
voodoo under a mystic priest known as a houngan. He eventually became an expert in dark magic and used his
powers to communicate with the spirits of the dead, an ability Strange had trouble mastering. Voodoo's powers
could be unpredictable, which made Strange slightly uneasy. But the two heroes had much to offer each other and
delighted in the opportunity to work together.
“It's good to see you, Voodoo,” said Strange. “I want you to know that any competition we may have had in the past
is of little consequence now. We are both experts in the field of magic, and I respect you very much.” Strange
paused. He looked around and saw that no one seemed to notice Brother Voodoo's presence.
“I'm invisible to everyone in the museum except for you. It's better this way,” explained Voodoo. He'd brought
along a host of mystical items, including shrunken heads, the Staff of Legba, and assorted magic powders. “It's not
so easy for someone dressed like I am to walk right through the front door. How'd you get in?”
“I'm a member, of course. I have always found natural history to be quite fascinating,” clarified Strange. He waved
his hand fancifully, making himself invisible. “Now we're both cloaked and can focus on the task at hand. Did you
bring your powders?”
Voodoo motioned to his utility belt, filled with trinkets and magic dusts. “I brought them all,” he said. He poured a
thimbleful of sparkling red powder into Strange's hand.
Strange tossed the powder into the air and blew it across the crowd. As it settled, his suspicions were confirmed. The
museum was crawling with demon elves. They'd been skulking around in secret and seemed confused.
“Can they see us?” asked Voodoo.
“No,” replied Strange. “They seem to be trapped between realms, with no means of escape. I believe they came here,
to the museum, looking for something they could use to return home.”
“Are they dangerous?” asked Voodoo.
“They're demon elves,” offered Strange. “They're certainly not our friends.”
Voodoo pondered the predicament. “This is a tricky situation indeed. These creatures are lost, without a way home,”
he said. “They may be demons, but so far they haven't hurt anyone or caused trouble. It would be foolish to engage
them in battle at this point. We must remove them from this plane of existence without revealing ourselves. First and
foremost, we'll need to keep the people safe.”
Doctor Strange was very impressed with Brother Voodoo. Normally, Strange followed his own instincts and did
things his way. It was rare for him to listen to the advice of others. Perhaps working together wasn't so bad after all.
It gave him an idea.
“I know a spell we can use to remove the demon elves,” said Strange. “It's quite unpleasant and could frighten the
creatures into violence. I'll need your help to control it and make sure that doesn't happen.”
“And you shall have it, Doctor,” assured Voodoo. “I'll hypnotize these beasts so they remain silent and peaceful.”
Voodoo began to murmur secret spells. He raised the Staff of Legba in the air and shook it vigorously. As it glowed
bright with mystic power, the demons stopped in their tracks to look at its radiant light.
Now it was time for Doctor Strange to work his magic. His body pulsed with mystic energies ready to be harnessed.
The spell he had in mind was usually used for attacking demons. Using it to help demons would take every ounce of
control he had. Strange was nervous as he focused his power. The barrier between realms was fragile, and they both
knew how important it was to protect it. Voodoo noticed Strange trembling and sweating quite a bit. His magic was
breaking down.
Suddenly, a headstrong demon elf shook itself out of its peaceful trance and shrieked deafeningly. The screech soon
roused the other demon elves from their daze. They were awake, and they were not happy. Neither was Doctor
Strange.
“Blast it!” Strange said angrily. “I couldn't sustain my power. The barrier between worlds has broken down.”
Strange didn't like being so emotional in front of Voodoo, but he didn't have time to think about it—not with a horde
of fuming demon elves standing before them.
“Take a moment to collect your thoughts, Stephen,” said Voodoo. “Loa conceal us!” A dense fog swept into the
room, camouflaging the magic heroes. But not before a nasty demon elf spotted them and charged at the weakened
Doctor Strange. Brother Voodoo waved the Staff of Legba, creating a cage of protective fire and stopping the demon
elf in its tracks.
“Now that these creatures are aware of our presence, we do not have much time, Doctor Strange,” said Voodoo.
Strange nodded. It was now or never.
Keep it together, Stephen, he thought. A gigantic glowing hand appeared above the demon elves. It carefully
scooped them up and returned them to the dimension from which they had come. Doctor Strange let out a well-
deserved sigh of relief. The process had gone smoother than he could have imagined.
“Thank you, Jericho. I truly appreciate your help,” said Strange.
Without Brother Voodoo's expertise, the situation might've been much worse. It gave Strange an idea. It was time to
end the magical assaults once and for all. “Join me on a new adventure, Brother Voodoo?” he asked. “I'll share a
spell with you on the way there.”
Brother Voodoo smiled. “Anything for a friend.”
扫一扫，收听本节英语音频
CHAPTER 8
Belvedere Castle sat peacefully in the middle of Central Park, unaware that it would soon be the base of operations
for a very important mission. Doctor Strange had sent out a magical message to his comrades, asking them to join
him there. He wasn't quite sure if they would show up, but one by one they soon arrived: Scarlet Witch, Iron Fist,
White Tiger, and Brother Voodoo.
The assembled heroes stood together as Doctor Strange addressed them. “As you know, there have been
unexplained breaches in the barrier between our world and the beyond. Someone has been abusing creatures of
magic. This must stop. I will continue to investigate the source of these crimes, but in the meantime, we must send
all of these creatures back from whence they came.”
The heroes looked at one another. It was an enormous responsibility. Doctor Strange continued. “Each of you is here
because you have something special and important to share. You're heroes, and I can't think of anyone else whom I
would rather work with to end this nightmare.”
“I've got a question,” said Iron Fist, raising his hand. “I thought you didn't like working with other people. What
made you change your mind?”
White Tiger lightly jabbed Iron Fist in the ribs with her elbow. “Rude,” she said. “This guy is a doctor. Show him
some respect.”
“The truth is that I didn't think I needed any help. But then each of you showed me that sometimes solving problems
requires teamwork,” Strange answered. “You all have something unique to share, and together I believe we can
accomplish great things.”
“Sounds good to me!” said Iron Fist, smiling.
“What can we do to help?” asked Scarlet Witch.
“We're going to draw every single magical beast in New York City out of the darkness and assemble them right
here. Then we're going to open a portal and drive them back from whence they came,” Doctor Strange explained.
“First Brother Voodoo will use his Staff of Legba to cast a spell, creating a beacon that draws all the beasts to this
area. I will lend him some of my power to accomplish this. Then Scarlet Witch will use her chaos magic to open a
dimensional portal that will send them all home.” He turned to Scarlet Witch. “Wanda, you'll need to keep the portal
open until every single creature has exited our world. It will be difficult to maintain and may put a strain on your
powers. Are you up for it?”
“I'll do whatever it takes,” she said confidently.
“What about White Tiger and me?” asked Iron Fist. “How are we going to help?”
“You both have a very important role,” explained Strange. “Once the creatures begin to arrive, it's up to you to make
sure they go straight through that portal. Your job requires patience and, most likely, force. Some of these beasts
may resist, and things could become problematic. Thankfully, you're both skilled fighters.”
“We won't let you down, Doc.”
“If you'll all move into formation now, we can begin the process,” Doctor Strange declared. “Vapors of Valtorr!” A
protective fog rolled in, shielding the heroes from prying eyes.
Brother Voodoo began his mystical chants. He held the Staff of Legba high as Doctor Strange infused it with some
of his own power. Lightning from the heavens struck the staff as a loud boom echoed throughout the city. The magic
staff pulsed with the power of one thousand suns. The magic flare began to draw out each and every enchanted beast
in New York City. There were werelizards, vampires, and shadow snakes. Tiny fairies descended from the sky, and
zombies rose from the ground. Ghouls of all kinds swarmed the park.
“Wanda, stand by to open the portal,” Strange commanded. “Now!”
Scarlet Witch focused her chaos magic, opening a rift in time and space.
“All right, big guy, in you go!” said White Tiger, grabbing an angry troll and tossing him in. When a fight erupted
between the were-lizards and the vampires, Iron Fist broke it up, sending all the creatures through the portal as well.
Doctor Strange's plan seemed to be a success. But he wondered if perhaps it was all too good to be true.
Then the sky grew dark as an evil presence swept across the city. The doctor looked up to see a glowing message
written in the clouds: WHERE IS WONG? Strange panicked. “I must go!”
扫一扫，收听本节英语音频
CHAPTER 9
Doctor Strange burst through the doors of the Sanctum Sanctorum and was met with silence.
“Wong?” he shouted at the top of his lungs. Strange was worried. He frantically searched each room, using his
powers to scan every inch of his home. Wong was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, the silence was broken. Laughter
echoed throughout the Sanctum, and it had a familiar tone. Loki had arrived!
“Loki! It was you all along,” accused Strange.
“No, Sorcerer Supreme. I'm not the one who has been causing you so much trouble, but I know who has,” Loki
admitted. “He's about to arrive, and you will bow before his dark power!”
Doctor Strange was confused. “Why are you here, Loki? What's in it for you?”
Loki guffawed loudly. He was enjoying this. “My role was to distract you. I'm a trickster, after all. I desire that
beautiful ax of yours,” he said, motioning to the Ax of Angarruumus, hanging on the wall. “I need something big
and threatening that will scare Thor.” Loki sensed a change in the air. “Ah, yes. He's here now, and I must go. Good-
bye, Doctor Strange. I look forward to your defeat.” He vanished.
Doctor Strange felt the Sanctum getting hotter. Sweat began to drip from his brow. Now he knew exactly whom he
was dealing with. It was one of his oldest and most dangerous enemies. “Reveal yourself, Spawn of Evil!” shouted
Strange.
A deep and frightening voice called out from beyond. “It's over, Doctor Strange.” The Flames of the Faltine covered
the walls of the Sanctum as the Lord of Darkness, Eater of Souls, emerged from the Dark Dimension. Strange's true
enemy was revealed at last. Dormammu!
“How did you get past the Sanctum's magical protections?” asked Strange.
“Simple trickery. Magic is about misdirection; didn't you know?” taunted Dormammu. “I disguised myself as you
and showed up on the doorstep of the Sanctum wounded. Surely Wong wouldn't turn away his master when he
needed him most.”
“Where is Wong?” asked Strange. He was angry but focused. To find Wong and save the Sanctum, he needed to
calm himself and learn Dormammu's master plan.
“He's right here,” said Dormammu, revealing Wong's lifeless body hanging in the air beside him. “Wong lives, but
his spirit is trapped on the Astral Plane and you will never get it back!”
Doctor Strange was boiling with anger. “And you were behind it all?” he asked. “The werelizards, the vampires, and
the demon elves—those were all your doing?”
“Yes, Doctor. It was I who created the numerous magical distractions across the city. I used my power to control
weaker beings that would attack your world out of fear. I knew that attending to all of these bizarre occurrences
would exhaust, frustrate, and confuse you. Then I could strike you at your weakest point.”
“You're as clever and devious as ever,” said Strange. “So why summon me back here? Why not simply destroy my
friend and my home and be done with it?”
“Because I want you to watch me take everything you have!” said Dormammu, firing a flaming bolt of energy at
Doctor Strange. “I want your Sanctum. I want your weapons. And once I get those, I will take control of the Earthly
Plane,” he threatened.
The heat intensified. Dormammu used his dark power to open a gateway to bring through an army of Mindless
Ones, who began smashing the Sanctum to bits. The Mindless Ones were giant, silent creatures with one purpose:
Total destruction.
Dormammu cackled as he watched them ravage everything in sight. “I will plunge this world into darkness and rule
it for all of eternity while you watch. There is no escape. It's over, Stephen Strange!”
“Quiet!” shouted Doctor Strange. He paused for a moment, and a sly smile appeared on his face. He had sensed a
shift in the magical realm.
“What are you smiling about?” growled Dormammu.
“My friends are here and you're in trouble,” said Doctor Strange. A rumbling shook the Sanctum, and in a brilliant
flash of light, Scarlet Witch, Brother Voodoo, Iron Fist, and White Tiger appeared, ready for battle. “Let us help you
finish this.”
“It's not over yet, Dormammu,” said Doctor Strange. He calmly walked over to the Ax of Angarruumus and
removed it from its perch. “Shall we dance?”
扫一扫，收听本节英语音频
CHAPTER 10
Doctor Strange and his friends stood tall against Dormammu and the Mindless Ones. Scarlet Witch, Brother
Voodoo, Iron Fist, White Tiger, and Doctor Strange were a team, and together they were ready to take on the lord of
the Dark Dimension once and for all.
Dormammu gazed at the assembled heroes and cackled. “Scarlet Witch? You are nothing,” he said dismissively.
Many villains had underestimated Scarlet Witch over the years.
She had defeated all of them. They believed she was delicate and sensitive, traits they viewed as weaknesses. In
reality, Scarlet Witch was a powerful sorceress who used her mysterious hex bolts in a variety of ways.
She fired one at Dormammu as he recoiled in surprise. He wasn't expecting such raw, unpredictable power. She
blasted him again and again in quick succession. Dormammu was angry. Lucky for him, he had an army of creatures
at his command. “Mindless Ones, shatter these heroes beyond repair!”
Doctor Strange wasn't having it. He leaped into the middle of a battalion of Mindless Ones and swung the Ax of
Angarruumus in a complete circle, knocking back the attacking beasts. For a moment it even looked as if he was
enjoying himself.
Scarlet Witch took the lead, steering each hero in the right direction. “White Tiger, you'll need to subdue the
Mindless Ones as best you can,” she said. “Keep them busy and prevent them from destroying the Sanctum.”
“You got it,” said White Tiger, jumping into action and attuning herself to the tiger amulet's power. “Time to take
down some Mindless Ones!” She launched herself into the air and kicked one right in the face.
Two of them charged White Tiger from either side as a third attacked from the front. A normal hero might've felt
trapped, but the nimble White Tiger flipped into the air and the three Mindless Ones crashed into one another. “I
love it when the bad guys do your job for you,” she said, moving on to the next challenge.
“Iron Fist, grab all the weapons and relics so Dormammu can't get his hands on them,” instructed Scarlet Witch.
Iron Fist was excited but also nervous. Handling a bunch of magic weapons sounded pretty cool, but one mistake
and he might accidentally open a portal to doom. He leaped across a group of attacking Mindless Ones and began
swiping pieces of Doctor Strange's collection.
“This is actually kind of fun. I don't even have to use my powers,” said Iron Fist as a Mindless One lumbered up
behind him. It raised its giant hands, ready to smash its enemy into a million pieces, but Iron Fist's acute mystical
senses alerted him to the situation. He summoned the power of the mystical dragon Shou-Lao, and his fist glowed
bright with energy. In the blink of an eye, the young hero had turned and unleashed the full power of his Iron Fist
punch on the Mindless One, knocking it down with a giant boom! “Oh well. I guess I spoke too soon. Nighty-night!”
He gently stepped over the beast.
Dormammu saw his minions being defeated and decided to turn up the heat. “Flames of the Faltine, swallow this
Sanctum whole!” he commanded, and the ceiling began to drip with fire. A loud belch shook the heroes as a pit of
flames opened in the middle of the room.
“I can't access the Astral Plane. Dormammu is blocking my entry,” Doctor Strange confessed.
“Let me handle this,” said Brother Voodoo. “Doctor Strange, get ready to grab Wong.”
“Ha-ha-ha! You cannot be serious, Brother Voodoo.” Dormammu cackled. “I rule an entire dimension, and you are
just a man wearing a necklace of skulls. Do you really think you're powerful enough to stop me?”
“Maybe I'm not powerful enough to stop you,” countered Voodoo, “but thankfully, I have friends like Doctor
Strange. And he happened to share a special spell with me for just this sort of occasion.”
“The icy tendrils of ikthalon!”
Brother Voodoo reached toward Dormammu and fired a massive bolt of freezing energy, trapping the demon in a
block of ice.
Scarlet Witch hastily ran to retrieve Wong and keep his body safe from harm. “Now, Stephen! While Dormammu is
frozen!” she shouted.
Doctor Strange entered the Astral Plane and quickly located Wong. “Hello, old friend,” Strange said. “It's good to
see you.”
“I'd like to go home now,” Wong replied.
Strange used his magic to pull Wong's spirit back to the Earthly Plane, where he awoke safely in his body. Wong
took a look around at all the chaos occurring within the Sanctum. “I'm going to need help cleaning this up,” he
joked.
Dormammu burst free of his icy prison. He spotted Iron Fist with Doctor Strange's prized Wand of Watoomb and
used his power to snatch it out of his hands. “Now I will end this battle and rule the universe.”
With a smile, Iron Fist pulled another Wand of Watoomb from behind his back. “Does this look familiar?”
“Silly human. You know nothing of magic!” said Dormammu. “Prepare to meet your doom.” In an instant the wand
in his hand disappeared, leaving Dormammu confused and angry.
“I know a little something about magic, Dormy. Can I call you Dormy?” asked Iron Fist. “You see, a wise man once
told me magic is all about misdirection.” He handed his wand to Doctor Strange. “Would you do the honors,
Sorcerer Supreme?”
“Gladly,” said Doctor Strange, smiling. “By the Wand of Watoomb, begone from this realm, foul demon!”
“You have not defeated me, Stephen Strange! I will return when you least expect it, and I will consume your soul.”
In a blaze of light, Dormammu and the Mindless Ones were gone. The battle was over, and everyone was safe at
last.
Scarlet Witch smiled.
“Thanks for the illusion, Wanda. Old Dormy thought he had the real thing,” said Iron Fist. “And nice wand work,
Doc.”
Doctor Strange glanced around the room, overwhelmed. “I cannot thank you all enough,” he said. “I owe each of
you a debt of gratitude.” “No, Stephen,” replied Brother Voodoo. “We owe you. Without your advice and guidance,
we might not have been able to defeat Dormammu.” A naked soul rat scurried across Iron Fist's feet.
“Yikes!” he cried out.
“Well, if you don't mind,” said Doctor Strange, “there is a bit of cleaning to be done.”
The heroes began using their powers to repair the damage. Scarlet Witch used her hex abilities to heal the burnt
areas of the Sanctum. Iron Fist focused his senses, eliminating all traces of Dormammu's evil presence. Brother
Voodoo blew magic dusts into the air, adding a new layer of protection to the Sanctum. White Tiger used super
strength to reassemble parts of Strange's damaged home.
“Dark magic,” grumbled Doctor Strange. “I imagine the scent will linger.”
“I'll light a fragrant candle. It'll be gone soon enough,” said Wong. “Now, more important, who wants soup?”
奇异博士的故事
史蒂芬·斯特兰奇年轻时，不论何时何地都自信无比。他以优异成绩从医学院毕业后，成了世界上最天赋异
禀的外科医生之一。他的外科事业蒸蒸日上，这为他赢得了财富和关注，不过，他也因此变得自私而傲
慢。
工作中，斯特兰奇医术高超，从无差错，声名远播；但生活中，他行事鲁莽，不负责任。一天晚上，他驾
着爱车，一路疾驰，岂料车身失控，一下撞到了树上。好在同事救了他一命，但其双手却伤势过重，难以
恢复。他失去了惊人的天赋，再也无法进行手术了。
然而，愤怒和沮丧并没有使斯特兰奇一蹶不振，相反，他前往西藏山地，开启了一场精神之旅。在那里，
他遇到了古一，一位拥有强大魔法能力的法师。古一教导斯特兰奇要谦卑谨慎，并在一门新学科——秘术
领域对他进行训练。
当契机到来时，古一超凡入圣，并赐予了斯特兰奇一件至尊魔法师的斗篷。对斯特兰奇来说，虽然生活不
如预期圆满，但以奇异博士的身份工作，倒也让他满足。
第一章
“快跟上！”猎鹰边喊边疾速穿过长岛购物中心。山姆·威尔逊以猎鹰的身份经历了种种冒险之旅，见证过一
些极度疯狂之事。他曾经与超级机器人、外星军队，甚至是岩石巨魔都进行过战斗。现在又有一群狼蜥生
物正在入侵，猎鹰简直不敢相信自己的运气如此之背。猎鹰安全地降落在商场中央，他发现钢铁侠、惊奇
队长、雷神托尔和绯红女巫也在这里。“所有人都已经安全撤离，危机已过。”他说，“我们去好好教训狼蜥
一番。复仇者们，集合！”
“别着急，山姆。”钢铁侠说，“我们得先弄清楚这些怪物到底是什么，否则都不知道我们要对付的是谁。”
“这群怪物又大又丑，还很臭。”山姆说，“知道这些还不够吗？”
一群狼蜥刚刚啃完墨西哥卷饼，从美食广场出来，迎面撞上了复仇者们。它们眼中闪着凶光，一看就知道
还没吃饱，仿佛下顿就要把复仇者们给吃了。
“滚开，你们这些怪物！”托尔怒喊道。他挥舞着他那威力无比的神锤，对着它们轻轻一挥，一排狼蜥便应
声倒地。
“救命啊！”附近传来了呼救声。
“听声音像是我们撤离时漏掉了一个人，我去救他。”卡罗尔·丹弗斯说。她正是队友们口中的“惊奇队长”。
她循着呼救声追到了波罗士奇的百货大楼，只见一个小女孩躲在衣架后面。“别担心，亲爱的，你现在安全
了。”惊奇队长向她保证道。
“小心！”小女孩指着一只正在靠近的狼蜥叫道。
惊奇队长一脚踢向狼蜥，将它踢了个四脚朝天，眼冒金星。“现在真的没事儿了。”她说着，一把抓住怪物
的后颈，把它抛向了空中。“交给我了！”猎鹰边说边截住了那只狼蜥，拽着它一起飞了起来，“让我们给你
找个好地方洗洗澡吧！”说着便一把将那怪物扔进了商场的喷泉里，然后返回与朋友们会合了。
“谢谢你赶来帮忙，山姆。”惊奇队长说道。
“这正是团队合作的意义所在。”猎鹰答道。这时，两只饥饿的狼蜥正从其身后偷偷靠近，但他过于专注，
根本没有察觉。
“我想，就像往常一样，还是由英俊帅气、智慧超群的托尼·史塔克来挽救危局吧，”钢铁侠边说边用冲击光
束轰炸偷偷靠近的狼蜥，救下了猎鹰，“至少我擅长拯救世界。嘿，旺达，你对这些怪物了解多少？”
“这些野兽不是自然物种。”绯红女巫旺达·马克西莫夫说。她尝试过用混沌魔法破译狼蜥的起源，但一无所
获。“它们被施了一种奇怪的魔法，就算是用我的混沌魔法也破解不了。”她坦言道。
“魔法，那可是我的最爱啊。”钢铁侠翻了个白眼讽刺道。众所周知，钢铁侠向来崇尚科技，鄙视魔法。
但有个人一定清楚狼蜥的来历。唯一的问题是，他与复仇者或任何其他英雄都格格不入。他们只有在有需
要时才会叫他前来相助。虽然众所周知，他既冷漠又不合群，但其能力之强却无可否认。此人正是秘术大
师奇异博士。如今这种情况下，相信他早晚会出现的。
复仇者们与狼蜥继续交战，突然听到一个熟悉的声音回荡在商场：“真是群奇异的小怪物。我想知道是谁创
造了它们。”
“出来吧，洛基，我们可没时间陪你玩。”托尔咆哮道。
在一阵薄雾中，阿斯加德诡计之神洛基现身了。他在英雄们上空徘徊，一边看着他们战斗一边大笑。
“老弟，这群恶心的怪物是你造的，对吧？”托尔问道。
“我才不会造出这种原始野兽。我只是来这儿看看。”洛基咯咯地笑着说道。
托尔径直冲到他跟前，根本无心玩笑，只是对他喊道：“保护好你自己！”
“等你下次不忙了我再来看你。”洛基一说完，即刻消失在一股薄烟中。
霎时间，商场一片漆黑，一声轰鸣撼动了大楼的根基。
一道闪电劈来，眼前的狼蜥瞬间全都消失不见了，只留下一缕薄烟。狼蜥终于消失了，一切重回正轨。对
此，复仇者们惊讶不已，不由得对奇异博士深感佩服。
“耽误了你不少时间，”钢铁侠说，“但还是要感谢你那古怪的魔法巫术，不然我们差点遇上麻烦。”
“史塔克先生，信不信由你，我有我自己的事情要办，”奇异博士说，“你应该知道魔法没有什么好取笑的。”
“那群怪物究竟是什么？”惊奇队长问道。
“它们本是无辜的动物，却被强行融为一体。”奇异博士解释道，“我用法术将它们送往另一个维度，在那里
它们不会再受到伤害。一旦法力消失，它们便会恢复原来的样子，重新加入我们的世界。”
“是洛基干的！”托尔断言道。
奇异博士闭上了眼睛，用至尊魔法师的力量，跨越魔法领域，寻找有关狼蜥的信息。随后，他睁开双眼，
眼中闪烁着明黄色的光芒。
“这不是洛基所为。”他说，“这种黑魔法我也无法识别。”奇异博士对各种形式的魔法无一不知。如果连他都
无法确定骚乱的来源，那就不是好兆头了。
“加入复仇者联盟吧，我们一起去查明这种邪恶的巫术。”托尔说。
奇异博士对他的邀请无动于衷。“不了，谢谢。你和我不一样，你不了解秘术。正如你今日所见，魔法世界
非常危险。如果我们一起工作，你只会碍手碍脚的。”说着，他便用魔浮斗篷升到了空中。
“但是和我们一起会玩得很开心！”钢铁侠开玩笑说，“我甚至还想让你教我一两招。”
“史塔克先生，我更喜欢独自处理魔法上的事务。再见，复仇者们。”奇异博士喊道，随后，便消失得无影
无踪。
钢铁侠难以置信地摇了摇头。“谁会拒绝复仇者们的帮助？”他问道，“那好吧，祝你好运，奇异博士。如果
魔法世界里真的发生了什么不好的事情，我想你会需要我们的。”
第二章
“我浑身都沾染了黑魔法的恶臭！”奇异博士边高声喊着边扬长而去。他带着种种疑团回到了家。有人为了
邪恶的目的使用魔法，他打算找出幕后黑手。
奇异博士的家，即至圣所，是一座施了魔法的宅邸，坐落在曼哈顿格林尼治村一条安静的街道上。所有人
都坚信这里充满了神秘。奇异博士身处众多魔法神器之中，惬意无比。
他沿着长长的走廊走向藏书阁，一路经过了无数的神秘奇观。圣殿的每扇门都通往不同的领域——有些是
和平之地，有些是危险之所。一旦开启错误之门，就会释放出一群长有触角的恶魔或是不死生灵的不安亡
魂。
“万能的维山帝！”奇异博士呐喊着，一只小野怪从他脚边匆匆溜走。圣殿时不时会接待一些奇怪的生物。
最后，奇异博士来到了藏书阁，受到了知心伙伴兼忠实助手王的欢迎。
“王，其中一只光溜溜的灵鼠已经挣脱了防守。”奇异博士说，“我原以为自它们入侵以来，我们一直把它们
看得死死的。务必找到那只灵鼠，妥善处理好，让这样的生物跑来跑去实在太危险了。”
“吃完午饭，我就戴上捉鬼手套去找。”王说着，叹了口气，“欢迎回家，史蒂芬。商场那边情况怎么样？”
没有人比王更了解奇异博士。他们是多年的知己，每当魔法世界出现异况，奇异博士力不从心时，王总在
那里，听他倾诉烦恼，给他提建议。王不仅是一位专业的武术家，在各行各业都堪称大师，奇异博士的很
多魔法神器也都是他从多元宇宙收集而来的。
“目前情况很糟糕，王。魔法世界处于危险之中。黑暗势力正在行动，我必须尽快找到问题的根源！”奇异
博士沮丧地说道。
“希望你回来的时候没在地板上留下一地脚印。”王说，“我刚刚手动清理了所有的地毯。”王也是圣殿的管
家。
“没，没，没。”奇异博士喃喃低语道。今天太过漫长，他开始变得极其暴躁。奇异博士在书架上搜寻可能
有用的信息，他的魔浮斗篷自动脱了下来，整齐地挂在旁边的衣帽架上。
“洗个热水澡放松一下。你饿不饿？”王问道，“我炖了点汤。”王做了一道非常好吃的鸡汤面。
奇异博士毫无胃口。“我没有时间洗澡、喝汤！”他大声说道，在藏书阁中暴躁地翻阅着典籍。他坚信，有
这么多信息在手，自己肯定能找到问题的答案。
突然，奇异博士心生一计。他说：“我必须前往星界，向师父古一请教。他能告诉我这些维度的异动。”
星界是地球之外的另一个维度，那里充满了光明与黑暗的神秘能量。要想到达星界，魔法师必须经过一种
叫作星体投射的过程，将灵魂与肉体分开。这需要他集中精力、全神贯注。
奇异博士盘腿坐在屋子的中央，他紧闭双眼，深吸了两口气，清空了大脑。随后开始了他的灵界之旅。
“小心点儿。”王告诫道。
“我向来小心谨慎。”奇异博士向他保证道，只见他的灵魂发出蓝光，离开了躯体，升向空中。
王离开了奇异博士的躯体，去忙自己的事儿了。“我去看看能否找到灵鼠。”他说着便关上门，离开了房
间。
“欢迎你，史蒂芬。好久不见了。你看起来很激动。”古一说着，将奇异博士带入星界。古一是最高级别的
强大魔法师。在奇异博士继承这个头衔之前，他一直是至尊魔法师。古一的肉身去世后，他的灵魂飞往星
界，永世不灭。现在，每当奇异博士需要建议时，都会去拜访他曾经的师父。他们之间的关系，亲切而复
杂。
“我没有时间闲聊，亟须您的指导，古一。有人在违规使用魔法，邪恶势力正在行动。”奇异博士解释
道，“您了解这种怪物吗？”
“嗯。你有很多神器可用。看，所有这些符咒书和魔法神器都能用。”古一继续说道，“为什么不用它们呢？”
“我会用的，”奇异博士答道，“但首先，我需要您帮我找到问题的根源。我能感觉到危险，但我不知道危险
来自何方。”
“你有很多敌人。”古一说道。
“确实如此。虽然今天和我交手的生物不像是洛基所为，但他也难逃嫌疑。”奇异博士说，“我需要更多信
息。”
“你有没有想过请朋友们帮忙？”古一问道。奇异博士对这个问题感到愤怒。
“复仇者们造型靓丽炫酷，是我非常尊敬的超级英雄，”奇异博士解释道，“但他们并不像我一样了解魔法世
界。我更喜欢独自工作。”
看着奇异博士那色彩鲜艳的魔浮斗篷，古一发出一声爽朗的笑声。“哈哈！这话竟然出自一位穿着靓丽披风
的人之口。”他戏谑地笑道，“我说的朋友也不一定指复仇者。朋友应该是各有所长，各不相同的。在不久
的将来，你也许会需要一些朋友。”
奇异博士不以为然。“我更喜欢一个人处理魔法问题！”他说道，“我带着重要的问题来找你，你却用谜语来
搪塞我！”
“让自己冷静下来，才能掌握秘术。整个星界满是那些懂得利用你情绪的生灵。”古一警告道，“你面临着很
多敌人，史蒂芬。你必须眼观六路，耳听八方，时刻警惕。人生是一场旅程，你务必小心谨慎。”
话音刚落，古一的元灵消失了，只剩下奇异博士一人独留星界。他本以为师父高深睿智，能给自己答案，
没想到反而留给自己更多的谜团。他刚准备返回地球，却感觉到有些不对劲。星界的温度在逐渐降低，他
的脊柱冷得打战。原来，这里不止他一人。
第三章
“你救过多少人，史蒂芬？”一个柔和的声音在他的耳边低声问道，吓了他一跳。他转过身想看看究竟是
谁，却空无一人。在星界，有个神秘人一直跟着他。他的声音由柔和逐渐变得愤怒起来。“秘术大师？可
笑！你根本配不上你所拥有的力量！”
奇异博士感到惴惴不安。这声音听起来有些耳熟，但他却始终想不起来到底是谁。即使只是元灵形态，奇
异博士也能感觉到屋里越来越冷。暗影在他身前的墙壁上跳舞。“不管你是谁，快出来吧！”他喊道。很
快，暗影开始剥落，变成滑行的蛇形生物。“维山帝保佑。”他低声咕哝道。
“现在就算是维山帝也救不了你。”神秘的声音回应道。
暗影怪物一边嘲笑着奇异博士，一边发出越来越响的嘶嘶声。魔浮斗篷察觉到危险，迅速包裹着奇异博
士，使其免受其害。“暗影怪物！在阿戈摩托的全能眼的光芒下灭亡吧！”奇异博士厉声命令道。魔浮斗篷
的护身符发出一道眩目的白光，烧得这群暗影怪物发出嘶嘶的叫喊声。怪物在墙壁上四散奔逃，但那神秘
的低语声依然在耳边回响。
“奇异博士，你怀疑自己。我看到魔法正对你造成伤害。”那神秘的声音传来，“为什么不放松一下，享受你
梦中的假期呢？”
奇异博士终于明白自己要对付的是谁！是梦魇——梦境维度的统治者。梦魇是一个残忍的恶魔，喜欢用敌
人内心最深处、最黑暗的恐惧折磨他们。他渴望以这些恐惧为食，并以此增强自身的力量。他经常躲在星
界中，伺机而动，等着在奇异博士最脆弱的时候将其击败。现在，他离这个愿望越来越近了。
“少奚落我，梦魇！”奇异博士命令道。那群暗影怪物再次出现，从背后蜂拥而至，紧紧地困住奇异博士的
元灵。他努力挣脱，但它们将他困得更紧了。
最终，梦魇现身了。他微微侧着头，打量着奇异博士，寻找着他的恐惧之源。梦魇打了个响指，曾经的画
面便浮现在奇异博士眼前。画面里，他还是一名年轻的医生，利用在医学院学到的技术救死扶伤，这给他
带来了巨大的快乐，但是一场可怕的事故改变了这一切。他的双手不能再灵活使用，更无法进行手术了。
梦魇以这种方式让他想起过去，他心痛不已。
“自从我们上次交手以来，我的力量已经有所增长。”梦魇冷笑道，“看看你的过去，史蒂芬，看看你的恐
惧！你的痛苦！”快乐的幻景顿时变得愈加黑暗。奇异博士看着年轻的自己挣扎地握住手术刀，挫败感丛
生。看到这一幕，他气愤不已。
“你吓不住我的，梦魇。在痛苦中挣扎只会让我变得更强大。”奇异博士吼道，“等我挣脱束缚，我会让你见
识到我有多强大。”
梦魇不禁捧腹大笑，尽情享受着这个瞬间。但就在此刻，奇异博士却发现了取胜的机会。他环顾整个房
间，扫视着可以帮他逃脱的法器。啊哈！终极暗影之剑可以担此重任。此剑储藏在附近的玻璃橱窗中。奇
异博士集中全部心力，控制该剑跳出橱窗，并斩断暗影怪物的重重束缚。终极暗影之剑听令行事，奇异博
士的元灵终于重获自由。他一把接住利剑，紧紧握住，准备战斗。
“聪明，聪明。”梦魇说，“你法器用得真是得心应手。我希望没人能偷走它们，否则你可就遇到大麻烦了。”
奇异博士察觉到黑魔法在被人操控，梦魇会不会就是那个幕后黑手呢？当然，他足够强大，这再明显不过
了。“魔法世界是不平衡的。你对它了解多少呢？”奇异博士问道。
梦魇又恣意地放声大笑起来。“哈哈哈！魔法永远是不平衡的！永远是不确定的！这就是它的本质，蠢
货！”
奇异博士变得焦躁不安。“你为什么来这里，梦魇？要么说出你的真正意图，要么立刻滚出星界！”
“我只是想试试你的身手。”梦魇说，“你很快就会遇到比我更大的挑战。还是那个问题：你能应付自如吗？”
梦魇那瘦削的身躯从空中蜿蜒滑向奇异博士。“你的恐惧很美味。我很期待早日再饱餐一顿。”说完，梦魇
就消失不见了。
奇异博士回到地球，元灵便迅速与肉身合为一体。经过梦魇的一番嘲弄，他早已精疲力竭，饥饿难耐。
王感觉奇异博士需要帮助，急忙冲进房间看个究竟。“你还好吗？”王问道，“我听到了一阵骚动。”
“我没事儿。”奇异博士气喘吁吁地回答，“我现在想喝点汤。”
第四章
“你有访客来了！”王喊道。
这些天，奇异博士一直在读《维山帝之书》。书中涵盖了多种强大的法术咒语，可以用来抵御各种各样的
攻击，但这就够了吗？自从与狼蜥交手以来，同一个问题一直困扰着他：魔法世界到底发生了什么？眼
下，这个问题依然苦思无果，而他得去接待一些不速之客。
“请允许我介绍绯红女巫和铁拳。”王郑重地说道，同时夸张地鞠了一躬，“欢迎来到至圣所。”
“我就说我们是贵客，对吧？”铁拳说道。
“王就是客气客气。”奇异博士说。王颇有幽默感地说：“丹尼尔·兰德，也被称为铁拳，昆仑的禅宗学生。很
高兴见到你。绯红女巫旺达·马克西莫夫，很高兴又见面了。什么风把你们吹来了？不像你们，我倒是忙得
很。”
“我们只是刚好在附近，随便溜达溜达。我们点点儿比萨吧！”铁拳说着，扑通一声坐在椅子上，抬起双
脚。
绯红女巫笑了笑。“你家真是太棒了，史蒂芬。我的力量并没有你那样强大，但我想在你家的藏书阁里待一
段时间。”她凝视着周围许多神迹说，“我真羡慕你的使命。”
“旺达，你是一位令人赞叹的幻术师。”奇异博士称赞道，“专注你的优势，而不是你的弱点。只有这样，你
才能成长。”
此时，铁拳坐的那把椅子突然抬起“胳膊”，紧紧抓住了铁拳的手腕，吓得他一跃而起。“哇！”他喊道，“这
把椅子是活的！”
“确实如此。”奇异博士说道，“圣殿里充满了许多魔法遗珍，这些珍宝都是我在各个维度冒险所得。然而，
即使拥有这里的一切，我也找不到眼下需要的答案。”
铁拳捡起了一个造型怪异的圆柱，开始玩弄起来，好像自己是一个佩带宝剑的海盗。
“这是做什么的？”他问道，“我打赌这是一个魔法马桶泵！”
“放下！这是瓦托姆博魔杖，不是玩具。”奇异博士警告说，“绯红女巫，你们此行的目的是什么？就算不懂
魔法，我都能感觉到你们此行不单单是为了闲逛。”
绯红女巫有点儿尴尬，她知道自己骗不了奇异博士，便坦言道：“有人操纵着我们无法控制的魔法力量，我
们，还有铁拳，都觉察到了。我知道你不喜欢与他人合作，但我们真心想帮你。”
“我是至尊魔法师，是各种秘术的掌控者。”斯特兰奇回答道，“我不需要帮助，谢谢。”
“但这并不能保护你免受一切伤害。”铁拳说，“当坏人试图用一招娴熟的老式拳法打你脸时，你会怎么做？”
“我们何不轻拳切磋一下？那样我就可以告诉你了。”奇异博士提议道。
“没门儿。也许你会趁我不备对我施魔法。”铁拳答道。
奇异博士的魔浮斗篷、护身符以及阿戈摩托之眼，都缓缓离开他的身体，漂浮到墙角边，在那里不疾不徐
地盘旋。“现在我没有魔法衣了。你放心了吧？”他问道。
“在我听来，他是在向你挑战。”绯红女巫说。
铁拳直勾勾地望着奇异博士。两人都点头同意后，比赛开始了。英雄们颇有耐心地相互周旋，考虑着如何
精准地攻击对方。距离上次和王以外的人切磋，已经很久了，这让奇异博士大为兴奋。
“我喜欢你头上的缕缕银发，史蒂夫。”铁拳笑着说道，“再问一遍，你多大了？”
“我活了那么久，哪些是废话一听就明白。”奇异博士反驳道，“还有，别叫我史蒂夫。”
两位英雄切磋了好一会儿，时而出拳猛击，时而勾住对方，时而避开攻击，都能轻松应对。
突然，奇异博士来了一记扫堂腿，将铁拳撂倒在地。
“服不服输？”奇异博士问道。
“服！”铁拳答道。奇异博士放开了他，铁拳站起身来，说：“你真厉害，奇异博士。我真没料到你会来一招
扫堂腿。”
“我甚至不需要锁喉擒拿术就能制服你。”奇异博士笑着说，“给你一点忠告——魔法和搏斗一样，都只是障
眼法而已。”
“你很聪明。话说，你在哪里学的这些招式？”铁拳问道。
“王不仅仅是一个好厨师，还是一位出色的徒手战士。”奇异博士答道。
“啊，所以王的招式就是‘王道’？”铁拳开玩笑说。
绯红女巫环顾房间，看到了奇异博士的众多魔法神器，脸上流露出好奇的神色。“圣殿里集中了这么多强大
的神器，你如何保护它不受外界力量的影响？”她问道。
“我已经布下了许多魔法防护结界，以免圣殿受到其他维度的威胁。除非得到我或王的许可，否则谁也不能
进入圣殿。”奇异博士说，“毕竟有备无患。”
王冲进了房间，说有重大消息。“我本无意打扰，但吸血蝠正在攻击中央车站。我想你可能会采取一些行
动。”他说，“还有，如果有人口渴的话，我已经备好了茶。”
“又有一场骚乱，我竟然没料到！”奇异博士惊呼道，“我必须即刻赶往中央车站。”
“我们和你一起去。”绯红女巫说道。
“不，”奇异博士反驳道，“没必要。待在这儿，喝一杯王沏的茶。”奇异博士展开双臂，迎接魔浮斗篷和阿戈
摩托之眼重新回到身上。“是时候干点正事儿了。”他说道。
第五章
“万能的霍戈斯！”奇异博士惊呼道。他到达中央车站，发现吸血蝠吓坏了旅行者，造成了严重的破坏。奇
异博士极其鄙视吸血蝠，觉得它们肮脏下流，冷血无情。
他用魔法力量扫描该区域后，察觉到一些异常。原来，这些吸血蝠根本没有去寻找血液，只是在恐吓人
群。他觉得这太匪夷所思了。
奇异博士创造出一道保护屏障，庇护着受惊的乘客。吸血蝠攻击着屏障，自知无法攻破，便落荒而逃。
“谢谢你，魔法先生。”一个男孩说道。
“别客气。从现在开始，孩子，你要做一名英雄，帮助你的奶奶，”奇异博士说，“这样你们在外面才能安
全。”
小男孩离开时，奇异博士听到不远处传来一阵打斗的声音。有人正单枪匹马大战吸血蝠。
奇异博士凑近一看，发现正是那位人称白虎的英雄。她已经与吸血蝠僵持了一会儿，精力正在迅速消失。
“帮我一把如何？”白虎问道，一拳打在了吸血蝠脸上。
“那个神秘的白虎护身符是你的吗？”奇异博士问道。
“当然。”白虎说，“如果你不介意的话，施点魔法怎么样？”
奇异博士双手高举到空中，眼中闪着明黄色的光。
“水晶风暴！”他怒吼着，刹那间，数百把匕首状的水晶如大雨一般刺向进攻的吸血蝠，逼得它们四散奔
逃。
“谢谢。”白虎说道，她拍了拍身上的灰尘，停下来歇口气儿，“这些怪物不知是从哪儿冒出来的，一出来就
开始制造麻烦。但它们没咬任何人的脖子，也算万幸。我想对方只是想折磨折磨我们。”
白虎能做出此番分析，倒让奇异博士眼前一亮。“这一观察非常敏锐，”他说，“魔法世界出现了混乱。某些
人或某些怪物正在干涉他们控制不了的力量。”这时，白虎的护身符开始发光。“你戴的护身符，异常奇
特，强大无比。”
“这就是我获得力量的方式。”白虎解释道，“如果你答应给我一些魔法训练的话，有机会你也可以看看我的
护身符。”
这个提议让奇异博士异常兴奋。他说：“让自己适应护身符的力量。用它来摒除杂念，集中注意力。然后你
就能够——”他犹豫了一下，感觉到附近有麻烦。
“啊！”一声尖叫传来。吸血蝠再次逼近，有人亟须帮助。
白虎扫视了这片区域。她的感官已经强化，在这种情况下，正好能派上用场。“我也想留下来和你聊聊，但
我还有正事儿要做。”话音刚落，她就钻入了茫茫一片愤怒的吸血蝠之中。
在白虎战斗时，奇异博士仔细研究了她的招数。原来，她的护身符不仅让她更有力，更敏捷，还让她专注
于任务而不分心。“这是一件贵重无比的珍宝，特别是对像她一样年轻的英雄来说。”他心想。
吸血蝠的数量正在减少，很快就要大功告成了。奇异博士寻思着，如何才能将它们一网打尽。于是，他用
魔法力量再次扫描它们。这一次，真相终于浮出水面，令人震惊。实际上，吸血蝠是完全由魔法制成的空
心贝壳。因为它们不是活物，奇异博士可以用任何方式毁灭它们。
“七曜临空！”他喊道，引来一阵强光热浪。强烈的闪电箭击溃了所有吸血蝠，它们瞬间化为灰烬。中央车
站里的吸血蝠终于全部消灭了。
看到奇异博士的魔法，白虎惊呆了。“太棒了！”她说，“我希望以后再也不用和一群恶心的吸血蝠战斗了。
谢谢你的帮忙。”
“万幸他们不是脑蛆，不用谢。”奇异博士说。
“我不习惯和其他超级英雄一起工作。”白虎解释道，“好吧，除了蜘蛛侠和诺瓦。对了，还有铁拳。我就是
想对你说声谢谢。没有你帮我，我这次不可能成功。我们以后应该还会合作的。”
“也许我应该与你合作。如果谁受得了铁拳，肯跟他合作，我真的佩服得五体投地。”奇异博士开玩笑地
说。离开白虎返回圣殿时，奇异博士突然怀疑自己当初是不是做错了，是不是不应该拒绝与其他英雄合
作。
“是时候改变了吗？”他心想。
第六章
奇异博士筋疲力尽了。他在纽约市上空的云层中平静地翱翔，但大脑却在高速运转。城市内外的袭击事件
来势汹汹，古怪离奇，令他困惑不已。随着魔法思维逐渐消失，他真的弄不明白这件事了。每当他认为有
了答案时，新的问题就会出现。
现在是时候再次去星界拜访古一，寻求他的建议了。在一片云的后面，奇异博士发现了一处安静的地方，
在那里没有人能打扰他。他尽力摒除杂念，唤醒自己的元灵，进入了星界。古一正在那里等他。
“很高兴又见面了，史蒂芬。”古一说道，“我想你有了更多我可能回答不了的问题。”
“我需要答案！”斯特兰奇命令道。
“不要向我提要求，至尊魔法师！”古一的声音一下子高了八度。这句高声的宣泄震动了平静的云层。古一
是一位慈祥的长者，但他也有脾气，尤其是当自己的权威遭到质疑时。
奇异博士叹了口气。对信任有加的师父厉声叫嚷并非他的本意，他只是无计可施了。“自然世界和魔法世界
之间的桥梁正在坍塌。”他说，“几种动物被粗暴地合为一种新的怪物，空有皮囊的吸血蝠毫无目的地攻
击，我和这些怪物交过手。梦魇揭露了我内心深处的恐惧，洛基可能也脱不了干系。所有这一切究竟意味
着什么？是一场考验吗，古一？这一系列事件是否相互关联？这些都说不通啊。”从奇异博士的言语中看
出，他陷入了深深的沮丧之中。
“一个博士竟说出如此戏剧性的话。”古一说，“史蒂芬，一切都是考验。静下心来，摒弃杂念。你寻找的答
案其实显而易见，但找到了也无济于事。”
“你的哑谜更多了。”奇异博士抱怨道，“我早该料到你会打更多的哑谜。你是我知道的最强大的魔法师之
一。你的智慧前无古人，但你竟然找不到答案！”
“你说得对！”古一赞同道，“你应该仔细思量每个环节，弄明白它们是如何环环相扣的。只有你才能给自己
答案。盟友就在你身边，你却拒绝他们的帮助。为什么？”
奇异博士又变得沮丧起来。“我不需要他们的帮助！我不需要任何人的帮助。我是至尊魔法师兼秘术大师。
我可以独立处理任何与魔法世界相关的事情。”
“然而，你现在却在这里求助。”古一严厉说道。